U.S. MINT PRESIDENTIAL MEDALS.

Well good news then because the Mint is doing that a lot of that next year.

 

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I'm just glad they don't have Coins based on Comic Art stuff, just medals.

 

You mean like the $50 gold coins with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, with more comic book characters to come in future years. (I may be missing a sarcasm intent in Clawcoins post.)

 

The gold ones are actually legal tender coins, with a face value of $50. The 1 oz and 2.5 oz silver ones don't have denominations, so are in fact just medals.

It doesn't bother me in the least that these exist; my only complaint is that they're overpriced, otherwise I'd probably buy them. Pop culture is an important part of our history and culture too, and the designs are really well done. They just cost too much.

 

They do bother me, but I'm willing to consider the possibility that that's a me problem.

I think my problem isn't so much that these are pop culture, but that the "heroes" are commercial property. And I fear we'll be seeing a lot more of that over the next couple of years.

 

I don't buy any of this, not in my orbit, but I'm not bothered by it at all. They can make all of the commemoratives, medals, specialty products they want. The cost is what people will pay - the free market is alive and well. If enough people don't pay what they are asking they wouldn't sell and prices would drop or they would make smaller lots. It's rather interesting, this is probably the only arm of the government that operates in the "real" world.

 

I agree with you that no living president, who is still in office, should appear on a current coin. I disagree with you that is not right to have a dead president on one.

I was 14 when JFK was assassinated. The feeling of shock and sadness was so strong at that time that there was nothing political about it. It didn't help LBJ get elected. The vast majority of people wanted JFK to be honored and rememebered.

Here's the only U.S. coin which was issued when the president was in office, the 1926 Sesquicentennial commemorative half dollar. The president was Calvin Cooledge. Some people, who didn't like Cooledge, commented that it was hard to tell if he were dead or alive. He was known as "Silent Cal."

 

I think it's fair to point out that Coolidge himself only agreed quite reluctantly to be depicted on the coin; he was initially against the idea but gave in eventually.

He is the only president to date depicted on a US coin while still alive, but not the only person.

To each their own I guess, but me personally I don't see that as a problem. I just wish they were priced more within the realm of reason for casual collectors, as it would have the potential to get more interested in the hobby.